Dispenser for collapsible tube contained products



R. L. BARTON Jan. 22, 1963 DISPENSER FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBE CONTAINED PRODUCTS Russell L. Barton Filed May 8, 1961 IN VEN TOR. wkmwy fim 0 Flag/6 Q Fig. 7 l6 1 United States Patent Ofiice 3,6?4598 Patented Jan. 22, 1963 3,074,598 DISPENSER FDR COLLAPSIBLE TUBE CONTAINED PRODUCTS Russell L. Barton, 13 Lincoln Ave, Stonington, Conn. Filed May 8, 1961, Ser. No. 108,614 2 Claims. (Cl. 222-100) This invention relates to dispensing devices, and more particularly to a device for holding and squeezing a flexible container so as to force the contents therefrom at a desired rate.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide a device that will dispense toothpaste and other products from collapsible tubes in a more efficient manner.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a device for conveniently supporting toothpaste tubes on a wall and forcing the contents therefrom in a more eflicient manner thereby eliminating waste.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a dispensing device for maintaining a toothpaste tube permanently during its life in a convenient location where it is always instantly accessible whenever it is needed.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view showing the invention in use;

FIGURE 2 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on the plane of line 22 in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a cross sectional view on an enlarged scale taken substantially on the plane of line 33 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a cross sectional view on an enlarged scale taken substantially on the plane of line 44 in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of certain parts of the invention when disassembled;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG- URE 3;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on the plane of line 77 of FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 8 is a view similar to FIGURE 7 showing a compression roller in a loading position.

Referring to the drawings, it can be seen that the dispensing device 10 comprises a generally U-shaped body 12 including parallel legs 14 and 16 connected by a bight portion 18 and having coplanar end flanges 24 for securing the body 12 to the wall 22. Each of the flanges 20 have a pair of spaced apertures 24 which receive mounting screws 26 which extend into the wall 22.

The operating mechanism for the dispenser includes a key roller 24 comprising a tubular member 26 having short and long bearing plugs 28 and 30 respectively forced into its opposite ends. The outer end of the plug 31} has a diametrical bore extending therethrough into which is force fitted a winding handle 32.

The legs 14 and 16 of the body 12 each have parallel, aligned, vertically extending oblong apertures 34 and 36. The plug 28 extends through the slot or aperture 34 and the plug 30 extends through the aperture 36 with the handle 32 lying outside of the body 12. The plug 30 is press fitted within the tube 26 by inserting the tube between the legs 14 and 16 in alignment with the apertures 36 and 34. Alternatively, the plug 30 may be screwed within the end of the tube 26 for facilitating easy and rapid disassembly of the key roller 24. An elongated rectangular slot 38 is formed in the central portion of the tube 26 and preferably extends diametrically through both sides thereof.

1 A solid roller 40 composed of a solid rod has its ends reduced in diameter as shown at 42 so as to form bearings for the roller. The reduced ends 42 also form annular and radially extending shoulders 44.

The operating assembly also includes a removable roller 46 preferably of the same diameter as the roller 4%. The removable roller 46 has two threaded axial bores in each end thereof. These threaded bores receive studs 48 and 50 which are threaded on their ends and mate with the threads within bores in the ends of the roller 46. The studs 48 and 50 have shanks which are substantially smaller in diameter than the roller 46, and have heads on their outer ends which are circular and of approximately the same diameter as the roller 46. A coil spring 52 is placed on the shank of the stud 48 before it is threaded into the roller 46.

In assembling the operating mechanism, it is preferable to install the roller 46 first. The leg 14-has a chamfered bore 54 for receivingthe head and shank of the stud 48. The stud 48 is first inserted through this bore 54 and then the spring 52 is installed on its shank on the inside of the body 12 as shown in FIGURE 3. An elongated horizontal slot for the stud St) on roller 46 is provided in the leg 16. This slot is shown at 56 and comprises an elongated narrow portion 58 terminating in an enlarged circular portion 60. The portion 60 is of substantially the same diameter as roller 46, while the portion 58 is of substantially the same height or width as the shank of the stud 50. The roller 46 is inserted through the enlarged portion 60 and screwed onto the end of the stud '48 so as to compress the spring 52 against the inner surface of the wall of the leg 14 as shown in FIGURE 3. The solid roller 40 is then snapped into the aligned bores 62 in the legs 14 and 16 by slightly spreading the legs and allowing them to snap back into position once the reduced end of the solid roller 4% is aligned with the bore 62. The key roller 20 is then installed in the oblong apertures 34 and 36 in the manner explained above. It is to be noted that the plugs 28 and 30 are of substantially the same diameter as the width of the apertures 34 and 36 whereby the ends of the tube 26 abuts against the inner surface of the legs 14 and 16 and prevents longitudinal movement of the key roller 24.

After the device is assembled as explained above, it may be mounted on a wall 22 by means of the screws 26.

When it is desired to use the device for collapsing a toothpaste tube 66, the closed end 68 of the tube is inserted between the rollers 40 and 46 from below. To facilitate the insertion of the tube between the rollers, the right end of the roller 46 as viewed in FIGURE 3 may be moved away from the right end of the roller 46. This is accomplished by pushing in on the head of the stud 5i) so as to compress the spring 52 and force the right end of the roller 46 from the enlarged portion or bore 611 of the recess 56. This permits the shank of the stud 59 to slide within the narrow portion 58 of the recess 56 so as to separate the rollers 40 and 46. When the right end of the roller 46 is moved away from the roller 4%, the left end of the roller 46 pivots about the head of the stud 43. Once the rollers 46 and 46 have been separated as explained above, the closed end of the tube 66 is passed between these rollers and inserted into the slot 38. The roller 46 is then moved back to its original position whereby it is parallel to the roller 40, and then the handle 32 may be rotated for winding the closed end of the tube 66 about the key roller 24.

As shown in FIGURE 1 when the handle 32 is rotated, the upper end of the tube 66 is forced between the rollers 46 and 46 which causes the tube to be compressed as shown in FIGURE 2. As the tube is compressed, the toothpaste 68 is forced upon the nozzle '70 of the tube. A toothbrush '72 may be placed below newness 3 the nozzle 76' for collecting the toothpaste 68 as it is forced from the nozzle 7%.

From the above description, it is apparent that the dispenser it? maintains the tube of toothpaste as in a readily available location Where it is always available for use, and toothpaste may be forced from the tube instantaneously by merely rotating the handle 32 a fraction of a turn. As can be seen in FlGURE 4, the end of the tube is completely flattened, thereby assuring that all the toothpaste within the tube is utilized.

While the invention has been described as being used for dispensing toothpaste, it is apparent that it can also be used for dispensing other products such as shoe polish, soap, shaving cream, etc.

As can be seen by a section of FIGURE 4, as the diameter of the key roller 24 is increased due to the Winding of the end 63 of the tube 56 thereon, the key roller and the tube wound thereon is forced upwardly by the rollers it? ands-6. Free upward movement of the key roller 24 is provided by means of the plugs 28 and 3t? sliding witiin the elongated apertures 3 and as. This assures that the roller '2 will always be adjacent the rollers (all and 46.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling Within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A dispensing device comprising a frame having spaced ends, first and second compression rollers and a winding roller extending between and rotatably journalled in said ends, said compression rollers normally being slightly spaced and parallel to each other, said winding roller being normally disposed closely adjacent the space between said compression rollers, means on said Winding roller for connecting it to the closed end of a collapsible tube, winding means connected to said Winding roller, quick release means for instantly separating said compression rollers, said quick release means including a slot in one of said frame ends intersecting a bore containing and rotatably journalling one end of said first compression roller, said slot being of smaller width than the diameter of said one end and extending away from both compression rollers, a stud of smaller diameter than said first compression roller connected to said one end, said stud extending axially beyond the end of said first compression roller, spring means axially urging said one end of said first compression roller into said bore, said spring means being compressible whereby said one compression roller may be forced axially out of said bore and said stud may be laterally moved into said slot away from the other compression roller.

2. A dispensing device as defined in claim 1 wherein said first compression roller is provided with a head on its other end, a shank of reduced diameter connecting said head to said other end of the first roller, said shank extending through another bore in the other end of said frame, said other bore being of smaller diameter than said head, said spring means comprising a coil spring around said shank compressed between said other end of said first roller and frame so as to urge said one end into said bore.

References tilted in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,542,678 Keefer Feb. 20, 1951 2,642,295 Lane June 16, 1953 2,722,343 Wilt Nov. 1, 1955 

1. A DISPENSING DEVICE COMPRISING A FRAME HAVING SPACED ENDS, FIRST AND SECOND COMPRESSION ROLLERS AND A WINDING ROLLER EXTENDING BETWEEN AND ROTATABLY JOURNALLED IN SAID ENDS, SAID COMPRESSION ROLLERS NORMALLY BEING SLIGHTLY SPACED AND PARALLEL TO EACH OTHER, SAID WINDING ROLLER BEING NORMALLY DISPOSED CLOSELY ADJACENT THE SPACE BETWEEN SAID COMPRESSION ROLLERS, MEANS ON SAID WINDING ROLLER FOR CONNECTING IT TO THE CLOSED END OF A COLLAPSIBLE TUBE, WINDING MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID WINDING ROLLER, QUICK RELEASE MEANS FOR INSTANTLY SEPARATING SAID COMPRESSION ROLLERS, SAID QUICK RELEASE MEANS INCLUDING A SLOT IN ONE OF SAID FRAME ENDS INTERSECTING A BORE CONTAINING AND ROTATABLY JOURNALLING ONE END OF SAID FIRST COMPRESSION ROLLER, SAID SLOT BEING OF SMALLER WIDTH THAN THE DIAMETER OF SAID ONE END AND EXTENDING AWAY FROM BOTH COMPRESSION ROLLERS, A STUD OF SMALLER DIAMETER THAN SAID FIRST COMPRESSION ROLLER CONNECTED TO SAID ONE END, SAID STUD EXTENDING AXIALLY BEYOND THE END OF SAID FIRST COMPRESSION ROLLER, SPRING MEANS AXIALLY URGING SAID ONE END OF SAID FIRST COMPRESSION ROLLER INTO SAID BORE, SAID SPRING MEANS BEING COMPRESSIBLE WHEREBY SAID ONE COMPRESSION ROLLER MAY BE FORCED AXIALLY OUT OF SAID BORE AND SAID STUD MAY BE LATERALLY MOVED INTO SAID SLOT AWAY FROM THE OTHER COMPRESSION ROLLER. 